Sanitary dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sanitary dispensing apparatus for completely enclosing a paper roll, allowing for the paper roll to be easily dispensed, and allowing for the cover to he personalized. The cover also allows for the paper roll to be easily replaced. The cover can be used in any bathroom.

CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/072,675, entitled “Sanitary Dispensing Apparatus,” filed on Oct. 30,2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated here in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of invention

The present invention relates generally to a sanitary paper-dispensingapparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatusthat can be personalized, that dispenses paper, and that fully enclosesa roll of paper, such as toilet paper. The present invention can also beused to cover paper towels.

2. Discussion of the Background

A typical bathroom is exposed to all kinds of germs and bacteria,resulting in an unsanitary and potentially unhealthy environment. Whenthe toilet is flushed, germs and bacteria may be spread throughout theroom contacting any objects in proximity to the toilet. Although mostpeople periodically clean their bathroom, they do not clean rolls ofpaper in their bathrooms, such as toilet paper or paper towels, whichare usually exposed to a continual cornucopia of germs and bacteria.Because the paper is exposed to these germs and bacteria, a person usingthe bathroom may also become exposed through contact with the exposedpaper.

Devices are known in the art that provide covers for toilet paper. Thesedevices, however, typically are not fully covered, or lack a dispenserslot, and may be difficult to use or personalize.

Thus, there is presently a need in the art for a fully-coveredpaper-dispenser apparatus that provides sanitary storage for paper in abathroom environment, and which is easy to reload and customize.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the sanitarydispensing of as roll of toilet paper. In one embodiment, the apparatuscomprises a dispensable cover to a roll of toilet paper. In oneembodiment, the cover is configured to fully enclose the toilet paper.The cover includes a front section and a back section, which are affixedvia a hinge in one embodiment such that in one configuration the frontsection and back section are configured to fully enclose a roll oftoilet paper. hi another configuration, the front section can be pivotedsuch that the cover is open allowing one to replace a roll of paper.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus also includes a flap in thefront section. The flap may be opened by pushing the flap inwards. Whenopen, the flap reveals a slot through which the toilet paper isdispensed. In one embodiment, the slot contains jagged teeth along oneor more edges for easy dispensing of the toilet paper.

In another embodiment, the toilet paper is supported by a shaft that isattached to the inside surface of the back section. The shaft extendsout and goes parallel to the inside surface of at least a portion of theback section. The shaft also includes a piece which extendsperpendicular relative to the parallel section of the shaft in order tostabilize the roll of toilet paper.

In another aspect of the invention, the cover contains a pivot wherebythe front section can be lowered for easy replacement of the roll oftoilet paper, in another embodiment, the front section may he raised orpivoted to the side for easy replacement of toilet paper.

In another aspect of the invention, the cover is adapted to dispense aroll of paper towels.

In another aspect of the invention, the cover is plastic. In otherembodiments, the cover is metal or a composite of materials. In apreferred embodiment, the cover is a material with antimicrobialproperties.

In another aspect of the invention, there is additionally a coverenclosure which is configured to be placed over the cover, allowing fora custom, personalized appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form partof the specification, illustrate various, non-limiting embodiments ofthe present invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing coverwhile in the closed state.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the dispensing unit including a flap in theopen state.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing coverwhile in a reloading state allowing for reloading of the paper roll.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the paper roll holder.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the personalized secondenclosure.

FIGS. 6-12 are photographs of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to the figures to illustrate selected embodiments andpreferred modes of carrying out the invention. It is to be understoodthat the invention is not hereby limited to those aspects depicted inthe figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover 100 inits closed state,

In one embodiment, the cover 100 resembles a U-shape, having a top side101, a bottom side 105, a back side 104, and left 106 and right 103sides. The front 102 side, which corresponds to the curved portion ofthe U-shape, includes a flap 110. In one embodiment, top side 101,bottom side 105, and left 106 and right 103 sides comprise a frontsection 107. Back side 104 may comprise a back section 108. The backside 104 may be configured to be mounted on a wall in one embodiment,The cover 100 may be made of plastic, metal or other compositematerials. In one embodiment, the material of the cover 100 hasantimicrobial properties.

In one embodiment, the front section 107 and back section 108 may bepivotally connected such that in one configuration the cover may beopened for the easy reloading of paper, and in another configuration thecover may be closed, fully enclosing the paper and forming a barrier togerms and bacteria that may be spread, for example, by the flushing ofan adjacent toilet. In another embodiment, the front section 107 andback section 108 may comprise other sides. For example, in oneembodiment, front section 107 comprises top side 101, front side 102.right side 103, bottom side 105, and left side 106, while the backsection 108 comprises the the back side 104 of cover 100. In yet anotherembodiment, top side 101, front side 102 and bottom side 105 are onecontinuous U-shape or curved surface. In a similar embodiment, theU-shape or curved surface and optionally the right side 103 and/or leftside 106 comprise the front section 107.

In one embodiment, the pivotal connection between the front section 107and back section 108 allows the front section to pivot sideways. Inanother embodiment, the pivotal. connection allows the front section topivot upwards. In still another embodiment, the pivotal connectionallows the front section to pivot downwards.

In one embodiment, the front side 102 includes a flap 110. Flap 110 canbe opened by a variety of methods including pressing the top flap cover201 (shown in FIG. 2) inward. The flap 110 then opens by means of ahinge 210, revealing the dispensing section 202. Flap 110 can alsoinclude a tab that may be pulled to open the flap. When flap 110 is inthe open state, it reveals dispensing section 202. In a preferredembodiment, the dispensing section 202 comprises a dispensing slot 220with jagged or toothed edges, through which the toilet paper passes andcan easily be torn. In other embodiments, dispensing slot 220 has smoothedges. In another embodiment, dispensing slot 220 has jagged or toothededges on only one side of the slot. In other preferred embodiments, theflap 110 and dispensing section 202 may be located on the bottom side105, the right side 1.03, the left side 106, or top side 101, or on theabove-referenced U-shape or curved surface.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover 100 inits reloading state allowing for reloading of the paper roll. In oneembodiment, when the cover 100 is in its closed state, a user can pullthe front section 107 down, along a pivot joint 310, revealing the paperroll and holder 301. Alternatively, in another embodiment a user canlift the front section 107 of the cover 100 up, along pivot joint 310.In another embodiment, the front section 108 may be pivoted to the sideallowing for the easy replacement of the paper roll. Pivot joint 310 canbe one or more hinges, or deformable material, allowing one to open andclose the cover 100. This allows the user to easily replace the toiletpaper roll.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the toilet paper holder 301. The holder 301is a shaft, attached to the inside surface of back side 104 of the cover100 by holder section 401, which extends outward by holder section 402,and then runs parallel to the inside surface of back side 104 of thecover 100 by holder section 403.

The holder 301 also, in a preferred embodiment, comprises holder section404 that is perpendicular to the parallel section of the shaft, whichstabilizes the paper roll. Holder 301 may be attached to different sidesof the cover 100 in other embodiments of the present invention. Holder301 may also be formed as an integral piece of one of the sides of thecover 100, or may be manufactured separately and affixed to one of thesides of cover 100. Holder 301 may be formed of plastic, metal or othersuitable materials. In one embodiment, the material of the holder 301has antimicrobial properties.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a custom cover enclosure 500. In oneembodiment, the cover enclosure 500 slides over the cover 100,permitting the user to easily personalize the cover 100 to match anyparticular bathroom design desired. In another embodiment, the coverenclosure 500 can be affixed to the cover 100 through another means,such as adhesive. Velcro, buttons, etc. In one embodiment, thepersonalized appearance can match the design (e.g. wallpaper) in abathroom. In another embodiment, the personalized appearance can be apleasing pattern (e.g. a children's cartoon character in assortedpositions). The cover enclosure 500 may be made of plastic, metal orother composite materials. In one embodiment, the material of the coverenclosure 500 has antimicrobial properties. Cover enclosure 500 includesan opening 501 allowing access to flap 110 for dispensing the toiletpaper.

During regular use, the sanitary dispensing cover 100 will normally bein its closed position, as indicated in FIG. 1. In this position thepaper roll is completely enclosed, and consequently protected from thegerms and bacteria found in a normal bathroom. In a preferredembodiment, when a user desires a piece of the paper roll, all that isrequired is to press the flap 110 inwards, which results in the top flapcover 201 opening by means of the flap hinge 210. The user can then teara piece of the paper roll, which is protruding from the dispensing slot220. The optional jagged or teethed edges of the dispensing slot 220 mayfacilitate the user in tearing a piece of the paper roll in a preferredembodiment. When the paper roll is empty or near empty, the user maywant to reload a new roll. A user can do this by pulling down on the top101 of the cover 100 (in one embodiment), or lifting up on the bottom105 of the cover 100 (in another embodiment). This will cause the frontsection 107 of cover 100 to pivot along the pivot joint 310, revealingthe toilet paper holder 301 and the toilet paper roll, When donereloading the toilet paper roll, the user can return the front section107 of cover 100 to its closed position,

Additionally, the user may choose to customize the sanitary dispensingcover 100. This can be accomplished by sliding a custom cover enclosure500 over the dispensing cover 100.

FIGS. 6-12 are photographs of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure shouldnot limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sanitary dispensing apparatus for dispensing apaper roll, comprising: a first enclosure configured to completely coverthe paper roll; a flap attached to the enclosure, whereby the flap isconfigured to be displaced so that the paper roll can be revealed; aslot on the first enclosure, under the flap, configured such that apiece of the paper roll can be pulled out and torn off from the paperroll; and a pivot attached to the first enclosure whereby the firstenclosure can be moved to reveal the paper roll and allow for the paperroll to be replaced.
 2. The sanitary dispensing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the first enclosure comprises: a front sectioncomprising one or more sides of the first enclosure; a back sectioncomprising one or more sides of the first enclosure configured to bemounted on a wall; wherein the front section and back section areconnected by the pivot and configured to fully enclose the roll of paperin a first closed position and to allow a user access to replace theroll of paper in a second reloading position.
 3. The sanitary dispensingapparatus according to claim 2, where the paper roll comprises a roll oftoilet paper.
 4. The sanitary dispensing apparatus according to claim 2,where the paper roll comprises a roll of paper towels.
 5. The sanitarydispensing apparatus according to claim 2, where the flap is configuredto be opened by inward depression of the flap.
 6. The sanitarydispensing apparatus according to claim 2, where the first enclosure isplastic.
 7. The sanitary dispensing apparatus according to claim 2,where the first enclosure is metal.
 8. The sanitary dispensing apparatusaccording to claim 2, where the first enclosure is a composite material.9. The sanitary dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, where thefirst enclosure is an antimicrobial material.
 10. The sanitarydispensing apparatus according to claim 2, where the pivot connectingthe front and back sections pivots sideways.
 11. The sanitary dispensingapparatus according to claim 2, where the pivot connecting the front andback sections pivots upwards.
 12. The sanitary dispensing apparatusaccording to claim 2, where the first enclosure consists of a continuousU-shaped design.
 13. The sanitary dispensing apparatus according toclaim 2, where the slot on the first enclosure consists of jagged edgeson at least one of a plurality of sides.
 14. The sanitary dispensingapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second enclosure,where the second enclosure covers the first enclosure resulting in apersonalized appearance.
 15. The sanitary dispensing apparatus accordingto claim 14, where the second enclosure is an antimicrobial material.16. A sanitary dispensing apparatus for dispensing a paper roll,comprising: a first enclosing means configured to completely cover thepaper roll; a holding means attached to the enclosing means configuredto hold the paper roll; a dispensing means attached to the enclosingmeans configured to allow a piece of the paper roll to be pulled out andtorn off the paper roll; and a refilling means attached to the enclosingmeans configured to allow the paper roll to be replaced.
 17. A sanitarydispensing apparatus for dispensing a paper roll, comprising: a backcover; a thin shaft attached to the back cover configured to hold thepaper roll; a first enclosure attached to the back cover along apivotable axis, where the first enclosure is configured to cover thepaper roll and to pivot to allow the paper roll to be replaced; a flapattached to the first enclosure, whereby the flap is configured to bedisplaced to reveal the paper roll; and a slot on the first enclosure,under the flap, configured such that a piece of the paper roll can bepulled out and torn off the paper roll.